Kitchen Decluttering (food)

Decluttering can be overwhelming! But when it's done one small space at a time,  the process is simplified.  When it comes to decluttering items from the food spaces we'll use three standard 'piles':  Expired/non-consumable; Donate; Keep Elsewhere.

Expired items are simply that,  expired.  If the container has a 'use by' date that is prior to the current date,  it's expired and can be trashed. (Please note,  many shelters or help centers won't accept expired food regardless of it being unopened but I encourage you to call your local area places and verify with their processes if called to do so).

Non-consumable food is something that may be unexpired but no longer edible.  Be it the chips that have gone stale, bread starting to mold or salad starting to slim...these can move into the trash.

Donate options tend to be those unexpired good intentions.  Whether you were planning to try that new recipe but never had time,  this food can now bless someone else and you at the same time.  Create a box to contain the items moving to the donate center (food pantry or shelters in your area) and once that box is full, immediately move it into the car and schedule time (the week of!) to take the box for drop off. 

Keep elsewhere is any food item that will be kept but relocated.  For example,  if you only use those specialty ingredients when baking once a month, consider creating a separate space for 'specialty' food storage.  At Hopeful headquarters this is all things cake and cookie.  Cake mixes, ingredients to make frosting, sprinkles, candy melts, the never ending list of 'those must have items for a specific theme' have dedicated baskets on top of the cabinets to pull down when in use and put back out of the daily use space(s).